Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network | G25AS00001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is cooperative agreement funding from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under its Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program to help state and local water-resources agencies participate in and strengthen the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN).

2) What is the main purpose of the funding?

The core purpose is to expand and improve the nationwide network of groundwater monitoring by supporting agencies that provide groundwater data to the NGWMN. This includes helping new partners get connected for the first time and helping existing partners keep their data services reliable, standards-based, and useful over time.

3) What is the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN)?

Based on the notice, NGWMN is a nationwide network intended to make groundwater monitoring information accessible through shared infrastructure, including the NGWMN Data Portal. The funding focuses on integrating groundwater monitoring data into this network and maintaining persistent, standards-based data services.

4) What legal authority supports this program?

The effort is supported by Public Law 111-11 (Secure Water), Section 9507, titled "Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey," which supports USGS work to enhance water data systems and accessibility.

5) What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant, because USGS expects to play an active and substantial role in helping recipients carry out the work.

6) What does "substantial involvement" by USGS mean for this program?

The notice describes USGS involvement as substantial, especially for new data providers. USGS support may include selecting and classifying monitoring sites and setting up web services that connect data to the NGWMN Data Portal. For existing providers, USGS may provide guidance on improving supporting site information for wells, well maintenance practices, and drilling activities needed to strengthen or expand monitoring in ways that align with NGWMN needs.

7) Who is the intended audience for this funding?

The main target audience is state or local water-resource agencies that already collect groundwater data and can contribute it to the NGWMN.

8) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include state governments and local governments (county and city/township), along with other qualifying entities described in the notice.

9) What kinds of projects does the funding support?

Funding is intended for practical, implementation-focused work that integrates groundwater monitoring information into the NGWMN and keeps it accessible through persistent, standards-based data services. The program emphasis is on making data better documented, more consistent, and more accessible through shared infrastructure (not simply paying for data collection alone).

10) Can both new and existing data providers apply?

Yes. The notice explicitly supports agencies that are new partners being connected for the first time as well as existing partners working to maintain and improve reliable data services over time.

11) How much total funding is expected to be available?

The announcement anticipates up to $1.7 million available (not guaranteed) based on Federal FY2024 expectations. The notice also states that this estimate does not commit USGS to a particular number of awards or specific award sizes.

12) Is the $1.7 million total funding guaranteed?

No. The notice describes the total as anticipated and not guaranteed, and it explicitly says the estimate does not commit USGS to any particular number of awards or award amounts.

13) What is the maximum award amount per project?

Awards are capped based on project length: applicants may request up to $150,000 for a one-year project or up to $300,000 for a two-year project.

14) What is the maximum project period?

Projects must be structured so that all work is completed within a two-year cycle from the start date.

15) Are there special caps for routine work related to maintaining data services?

Yes. For routine work specifically tied to maintaining persistent data services (identified in the notice as Objective 2A), funding is capped at $20,000 per year. Agencies responsible for more than 500 sites may request up to $40,000 per year for that routine data-service maintenance component.

16) If our agency has more than 500 sites, what routine maintenance cap applies?

If the agency is responsible for more than 500 sites, the notice says the routine data-service maintenance component (Objective 2A) may be requested up to $40,000 per year.

17) When can a project start?

Proposals must specify a start date between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025. The actual start date will also depend on when funds become available and when the cooperative agreement is finalized.

18) Why might awards be delayed even if applications are submitted on time?

The notice states that Congress had not authorized FY2025 funds for NGWMN at the time of the announcement. As a result, USGS cannot make awards until the needed appropriations are in place, even if applications are submitted and reviewed.

19) What is the application deadline?

The application deadline listed in the notice is January 16, 2025.

20) When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on October 10, 2024.

21) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G25AS00001.

22) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The notice associates this opportunity with CFDA number 15.980.

23) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is listed under the natural resources activity category.

24) Is this opportunity discretionary?

Yes. The notice lists the opportunity as discretionary.

25) What specific outcomes is USGS trying to support through these awards?

Based on the notice, outcomes include expanding the nationwide groundwater monitoring network, connecting new data providers to the NGWMN, improving the reliability and usefulness of existing data services, and ensuring groundwater monitoring information remains accessible through persistent, standards-based services connected to the NGWMN Data Portal.

26) Does this program only pay for collecting groundwater measurements?

No. The notice emphasizes that the program is paying for work needed to make groundwater monitoring data better documented, more consistent, and more accessible through shared infrastructure, including persistent and standards-based data services.

27) What kind of technical integration work is implied by "standards-based data services"?

The notice indicates the goal is to ensure groundwater monitoring data are accessible through persistent, standards-based web data services that connect to the NGWMN Data Portal.

28) What role does the NGWMN Data Portal play in this opportunity?

The notice describes work that connects data providers to the NGWMN Data Portal by setting up web services, helping ensure the data are accessible through persistent, standards-based services.

29) How does the program support new NGWMN data providers differently than existing ones?

For new data providers, USGS involvement is highlighted around helping select and classify monitoring sites and establishing web services to connect to the NGWMN Data Portal. For existing providers, USGS involvement includes guidance on improving supporting well site information, well maintenance practices, and drilling activities that strengthen or expand monitoring aligned with NGWMN needs.

30) Do proposals need to be structured around a specific timeframe?

Yes. Proposals must specify a start date between July 1, 2025 and September 30, 2025, and all work must be completed within a two-year cycle from the start date.